Houston County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 25 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Houston County, Texas — about one every 6.2 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 11 miles away on 8 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 11 mi away, 8 July 2024
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 73 kt (84 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1888) — 4.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 25
- Peak monthJuly — 7 storms (28% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1950s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 8 Jul 2024 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Imelda (2019) | 19 Sep 2019 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 6 Jun 2001 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 26 Jun 1986 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 26 Jul 1979 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 9 Sep 1974 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 10 Aug 1957 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 28 Aug 1955 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 4 Oct 1949 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 24 Jul 1933 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 12.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 15 Sep 1882 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 1 system passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 30 Jun 1989 | 3.3 mi | 20 kt |
How Houston County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Houston County, Texas ranks #644 — more exposed than 70.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #59 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Ike (2008) passed 11 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1891) passed 43 miles away on 6 July 1891 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1941) passed 25 miles away on 24 September 1941 as a hurricane, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Beryl (2024) passed 11 miles away on 8 July 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 25 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 25 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 24 years, between 1891 and 1915. It has been 1 year since the last one; 19 of the 23 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Houston County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Houston County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1871. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 25.
When was the last hurricane in Houston County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 11 miles away — 18 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beryl (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Houston County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 11 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Houston County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.2 years — 25 storms over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Houston County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Walker County, Texas has 37 on record.